Vascularization of intravitreal injection of Conbercept in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To evaluate retinal vascularization caused by the intravitreal injection of Conbercept in the treatment of a series of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)cases in Type Ⅰ(threshold and pre-threshold period)and aggressive ROP(A-ROP).METHODS: The data of 34 ROP cases(67 eyes)treated by intravitreal injection of Conbercept(IVC)in the ophthalmology department of the Xiamen Children's Hospital from July 2017 to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Reactivation, which refers to recurrence of acute phase features, occurred at any stage of the disease in the presence or absence of other diseases. RESULT: The average gestational age of the 34 children was 28.82±2.32wk. The average birth weight was 1155.18±398.22g. The lesion zone of 19 cases(37 eyes)was Zone Ⅰ. In 10 cases(20 eyes), the lesion was in Zone Ⅱ, and in 5 cases(10 eyes), the lesion was in the posterior Zone Ⅱ. The total effective rate of disease control in ROP children treated with once IVC was 73.1%(49/67), and the vascularization of Zone Ⅱ was completed. The patients showed variable changes in the vascularization in Zone Ⅲ. For the patients who received one treatment and did not reactivate, the average rate of Type Ⅰ vascularization of ROP was 9.11±2.49wk, and the A-ROP was 13.40±4.04wk. The rate of A-ROP vascularization in Zone Ⅱ was significantly longer compared to Type Ⅰ.CONCLUSION: IVC effectively completes vascularization in Zone Ⅱ.

Effects of intrathecal administration of AMon mechanical allodynia and CCL2 expression in DRG in bone cancer rats / 生理学报

The pain peptide adrenomedullin (AM) plays a pivotal role in pathological pain. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of blockade of AM receptor on bone cancer pain (BCP) and its mechanism. BCP was developed by inoculation of Walker 256 mammary gland carcinoma cells in the tibia medullary cavity of Sprague Dawley rats. The selective AM receptor antagonist AMwas administered intrathecally on 15 d after the inoculation. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect mRNA level of CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Double immunofluorescence staining was used to analyze the localizations of CCL2 and AM in DRG of normal rats. The results showed that, from 6 to15 d after the inoculation, the animals showed significant reduction in the mechanical pain threshold in the ipsilateral hindpaw, companied by the decline in bone density of tibia bone. The expression of CCL2 mRNA in DRG of BCP rats was increased by 3 folds (P < 0.001 vs saline group). Intrathecal administration of AMabolished bone cancer-induced mechanical allodynia and increase of CCL2 mRNA level (P < 0.001). In normal rats, CCL2 was co-localized with AM in DRG neurons. These results suggest that AM may play a role in the pathogenesis of BCP. The increased AM bioactivity up-regulates CCL2 expression in DRG, which may contribute to the induction of pain hypersensitivity in bone cancer.

Reverse effect of curcumin on CDDP-induced drug-resistance via Keap1/p62-Nrf2 signaling in A549/CDDP cell

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the effect of curcumin on CDDP-induced drug resistance and explore the underlying molecular mechanism through Nrf2 system and autophagy pathway.@*METHODS@#A drug-resistant cell model was established by exposing A549/CDDP cell to 2 μg/mL CDDP. A549/CDDP cell was treated with 20 μg/mL CDDP and 10 μM curcumin. The cell viability and apoptosis level, the signals of Keap1/P62-Nrf2 and autophagy pathway were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#CDDP induction promoted drug-resistant phenotype in A549/CDDP cell and activated autophagy as well as Nrf2 signals in A549/CDDP cell. Meanwhile, curcumin combination attenuated autophagy and Nrf2 activation induced by CDDP, and reversed the drug-resistant phenotype. Notably, curcumin combination augmented Keap1 transcription. Furthermore, Keap1 ablation with short hairpin RNAs hampered the efficacy of curcumin, suggesting Keap1 played a crucial role on reversal effect of curcumin.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The present findings demonstrate that CDDP promotes abnormal activation of Nrf2 pathway and autophagy, leading to drug resistance of A549/CDDP cell. Curcumin attenuates this process and combat drug-resistance through its potent activation on Keap1 transcription, which is essential for interplay between oxidative stress induced Nrf2 activation and autophagy/apoptosis switch.

Plumbagin influences the proliferation and apoptosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma cell lines by down-regulation of FoxM1 expression / 药学学报

Plumbagin (Plumbago zeylanica L.) has a wide spectrum of anticancer activity with a relatively lower toxicity. The molecular mechanisms of proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction by plumbagin on esophageal squamous carcinoma cell lines may be important for the structure modification and clinical application of plumbagin. After treatment of KYSE-30, KYSE-70 and KYSE-140 cells with 0-20 μmol·L-1 of plumbagin for 24, 48, 72 h, CCK8 was used to examine the proliferation, Annexin V and PI immunofluorescence staining for apoptosis, real-time PCR and Western blot for FoxM1 mRNA and protein expression, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay for the transcriptional activity of FoxM1, respectively. In addition, the relationship between anti- tumor effect of plumbagin and FoxM1 was investigated in vivo. Plumbagin significantly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma cell in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, plumbagin down-regulated the expression of FoxM1 through suppression of its gene transcription. Our findings suggest that plumbagin may inhibit the proliferation of esophageal squamous carcinoma cell in vivo and in vitro through down-regulating the expression of FoxM1.

Influencing factors of dry eye disease in perimenopausal women / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#Perimenopausal women have a very high risk suffering from dry eye. Local disorder such as inflammation or estrogen deficiency were usually attributed as the main mechanism in recent researches. However, the author believes that comparing with other types of dre eye, there are some others risk factors should be noticed. This article reviewed recent literatures on causes of dry eye in perimenopausal women, including lacrimal gland and conjunctiva dysfunction, hormones deficiency, psychological disorder, systemic diseases, as well as living conditions and personal habits.

Reverse effect of curcumin on CDDP-induced drug-resistance via Keap1/p62-Nrf2 signaling in A549/CDDP cell

Objective To assess the effect of curcumin on CDDP-induced drug resistance and explore the underlying molecular mechanism through Nrf2 system and autophagy pathway. Methods A drug-resistant cell model was established by exposing A549/CDDP cell to 2 μg/mL CDDP. A549/CDDP cell was treated with 20 μg/mL CDDP and 10 μM curcumin. The cell viability and apoptosis level, the signals of Keap1/P62-Nrf2 and autophagy pathway were analyzed. Results CDDP induction promoted drug-resistant phenotype in A549/CDDP cell and activated autophagy as well as Nrf2 signals in A549/CDDP cell. Meanwhile, curcumin combination attenuated autophagy and Nrf2 activation induced by CDDP, and reversed the drug-resistant phenotype. Notably, curcumin combination augmented Keap1 transcription. Furthermore, Keap1 ablation with short hairpin RNAs hampered the efficacy of curcumin, suggesting Keap1 played a crucial role on reversal effect of curcumin. Conclusions The present findings demonstrate that CDDP promotes abnormal activation of Nrf2 pathway and autophagy, leading to drug resistance of A549/CDDP cell. Curcumin attenuates this process and combat drug-resistance through its potent activation on Keap1 transcription, which is essential for interplay between oxidative stress induced Nrf2 activation and autophagy/apoptosis switch.

Scutellarin attenuates endothelium-dependent aasodilation impairment induced by hypoxia reoxygenation, through regulating the PKG signaling pathway in rat coronary artery / 中国天然药物

Scutellarin (SCU), a flavonoid from a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. Our previous study has demonstrated that SCU relaxes mouse aortic arteries mainly in an endothelium-depend-ent manner. In the present study, we investigated the vasoprotective effects of SCU against HR-induced endothelial dysfunction (ED) in isolated rat CA and the possible mechanisms involving cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) dependent protein kinase (PKG). The isolated endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rat CA rings were treated with HR injury. Evaluation of endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation relaxation of the CA rings were performed using wire myography and the protein expressions were assayed by Western blotting. SCU (10-1 000 μmol·L(-1)) could relax the endothelium-intact CA rings but not endothelium-denuded ones. In the intact CA rings, the PKG inhibitor, Rp-8-Br-cGMPS (PKGI-rp, 4 μmol·L(-1)), significantly blocked SCU (10-1 000 μmol·L(-1))-induced relaxation. The NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, NO-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME, 100 μmol·L(-1)), did not significantly change the effects of SCU (10-1 000 μmol·L(-1)). HR treatment significantly impaired ACh-induced relaxation, which was reversed by pre-incubation with SCU (500 μmol·L(-1)), while HR treatment did not altered NTG-induced vasodilation. PKGI-rp (4 μmol·L(-1)) blocked the protective effects of SCU in HR-treated CA rings. Additionally, HR treatment reduced phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (p-VASP, phosphorylated product of PKG), which was reversed by SCU pre-incubation, suggesting that SCU activated PKG phosphorylation against HR injury. SCU induces CA vasodilation in an endothelium-dependent manner to and repairs HR-induced impairment via activation of PKG signaling pathway.

Blocking effect of arsenic trioxide on the proliferation and cell cycle of human Burkitt lymphoma cells and its related mechanism / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on proliferation and cell cycle of human Burkitt lymphoma cells and its related molecular mechanism, so as to provide experimental evidence for treatment of Burkitt lymphoma with As2O3. Human Burkitt lymphoma cell line Namalwa was used as the model, the effect of As2O3 on cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis, as well as the expression of cell cycle modulation related genes, including mRNA and protein level, were detected by MTT method, flow cytometry, real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. The results showed that the As2O3 inhibited significantly the growth and proliferation of Namalwa cells in concentration-and time-dependent manner. The As2O3 arrested obviously cell cycle of Namalwa cells in G1 phase, and showed significant concentration-effect relationship. The As2O3 induced the apoptosis of Namalwa cells in concentration-and time-dependent manner, downregulated the expression of the important driving genes of cell cycle including Cyclin E and CDK2 in mRNA and protein level, upregulated the expression of the important inhibiting gene of cell cycle-P21 in mRNA and protein level in concentration-dependent manner. It is concluded that As2O3 inhibits significantly the growth and proliferation of Namalwa cells, and the effect was closely relates with its inducing the apoptosis and blocking the cell cycle of Namalwa. The action of blocking cell cycle is closely associated with its downregulating the expression of driving genes of cell cycle-Cyclin E and CDK2, upregulating the expression of the inhibiting gene of cell cycle-P21.

Study on female sexual dysfunction in type 2 diabetic Chinese women / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in type 2 diabetes patients, by comparing the sexual function between type 2 diabetic women and non-diabetic women with Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>115 type 2 diabetic women and 107 age-matched non-diabetes women were enrolled with similar backgrounds. Their sexual functions were evaluated with FSFI. Metabolic parameters such as body mass index, blood lipid profile, hemoglobin A1C, plasma glucose were also collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Total score of FSFI of the type 2 diabetic women were significantly lower than that of the non-diabetic controls (18.27±8.96 vs. 23.02±5.78, P=0.000). Scores of the FSFI domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, pain) of the type 2 diabetic group were also lower than those of the control group. According to the FSD criterion (FSFI<25) available in China, the percentage of FSD in the type 2 diabetic group was significantly higher than that of the control group (79.2%vs. 55.0%, P<0.001). These trends seemed more prominent in pre-menopause subgroups. The logistic regression analysis indicated that age and diabetes were independent risk factors of FSD. Body Mass Index (BMI) also had influence in the diabetes group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Findings from this study showed that there are more FDS in Chinese type 2 diabetic women than in their non-diabetic counterparts, especially in pre-menopause participants.</p>

Differential reversal effect of intrathecal bovine adrenal medulla peptide 22 on morphine tolerance in rats / 生理学报

Bovine adrenal medulla 22 (BAM22), an endogenous opioid peptide, is one of the cleavage products of proenkephalin A. It potently activates opioid receptors and sensory neuron-specific receptor (SNSR). The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of BAM22 on morphine tolerance. Intrathecal (i.t.) administration of morphine for 7 d produced morphine tolerance in rats. Then the rats were divided into three groups in which morphine, saline or BAM22 were administered i.t., respectively, on day 8, and morphine was given to all of the animals on day 9. It was found that morphine administered on day 9 resumed antinociceptive effects in BAM22 group, but not in saline or morphine group. The potency of morphine in BAM22 group was 48.5% of the maximal possible effect (MPE) detected by paw withdrawal test and the antinociception persisted for approximately 1 h. Following the similar treatment, morphine administered on day 9 reduced nocifensive behaviors by 3.2 min and 24 min in BAM22 group in the first and second phases, in the formalin test, respectively. The decreases were 45% and 82% of the corresponding values observed in saline group. Furthermore, following the treatment with BAM22 (10 nmol) on day 8 in morphine-tolerance rats, morphine administered on day 9 decreased the expressions of the heat-evoked c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) protein by approximately 80% in laminae I-II, III-IV and V-VI in the spinal cord at L4-L5 compared with that in saline or morphine group. The present study provided evidence at behavioral and cellular levels showing that BAM22 resumed antinociception of morphine. The results that the reversal effect of BAM22 on morphine tolerance was more efficient in persistent pain model than in acute pain may indicate that BAM22 differentially modulates morphine tolerance. The present study suggests that SNSR is involved in the modulation of morphine tolerance.